Safety valve mechanism



Dec. 10, 1946. T. F. VAN DENBERG ETAL 2,412,235

1 SAFETY VALVE MECHANISM Filed Oct. V13, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS a2 THoMAS F. VAN Dansana 26 I. y 4m: Form OLLBY Dec. 10, 1946. r. F.- vA DENBEhG ET AL 2,412,235

SAFETY VALVE MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 13,- 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TORS moms EVAN Dmaens 7 BY buav' g M W H T TORNE Y6 Patent ed Dec. 10, 1946 UNITED STAT SAFETY. VALVE MECHANISM Thomas F. Van Denberg, Cleveland Heights, and John Selby, Euclid, Ohio, assignors to The Titan Valve and Manufacturing (lompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October-'13, 1944, Serial No. 558,514

This invention relates to safety valve mecha- 9 claims. (01. 158-1171) nism such as is used for controlling the supply of fuel gas to the burner 01 a hot water heating device or the like. The invention is an improvement upon the valve mechanism forming the subject matter of our prior application for ,Thermo-magnetic safety pilot mechanism, filed August 19, 1944, Serial No. 550,214, to which reference may be. had it desirable or necessary.

One object of the invention is to provide improved magnetic couple maintaining means for the control valve or device, in which the magnet,

, rather than the keeper or armature, is associated with the movable valvemember for movement therewith to the maintaining position, and in which, also, the armature or keeper is also movable to produce or to terminate the maintaining effect.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the thermally responsive maintaining means for the controlling valve by utilizing there- V for relatively movable cooperating mated keeper and permanent magnet members together with stationary stop means forpreventing them from reaching contact during a resetting operation, one of said members being bodily movable with reference to the stop means to approach and contact with the other member when the pilot bumer is ignited, and being bodily movable away from its -mate and said stop means to release the maintaining means guished.

whenthe flame is extin- Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination valve mechanism of this kind including, as a part of-the same unit, a regulating valve and thermostat sensitive to water temflame. I

Further objects of the invention in part are .obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment oi the invention.

Fig. 1 is anelevation, partly broken out and in section illustrating the valve mechanism applied to a hot water heating device;

- with said passage and with pipe 21.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, showing the valve mechanism-in normal or inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional elevation, showing the reset device in advance position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the parts in final position;

Fig. 5 is a detail section view on the line 5-5, Fig. 3: and I Fig. 6 is a cross-section, on I the line 66. Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the valve mechanism is shown, for convenience of illustration and in no sense of limitation, for use in controlling the flow of fuel gas to the main and pilot bumers l0,

l-i of a domestic hot water heater, which is shown conventionally as including an outer casing or jacket [2 enclosing the combustion chamber I 3 in which the burners operate and above them a water reservoir having a chamber M. The products of combustion may be carried away-to the stack pipe IS in any suitable manner, as by a channel or channels it as is usual.

The valve mechanism forming the subject mat-- ter of the present-invention is of unitary form, consisting of a single hollow body or casing l'l provided with supply and discharge chambers i8, i9 adapted for connection to or communication with a source of gas supply, such as the supply pipe 20 and a pipe or conduit 2i communicating with the main burner III, in the usual manner.

Communication between the supply chamber l8 and discharge chamberiS is controlled byan adjustable valve 23. Assuming that valve to be open, gas flows from the discharge chamber l9 to themain burner pipe 2| by way of ports 24, a passage 25 and a chamber 26 communicating Flow frompassage 25 to chamber 26 is controlled by a regulating valve 21 operated, to open and close it, by snap action mechanism, marked generally 28 and actuated by the relatively non-expansible rod 29 of a thermostat including expansible copper tube 30 which extends through a hub 3| or casing I! designed for attachment to the wall I2 of the heater casing, so that the thermostatic elements, 29, 30 extend into the water and are sensitive to variations in temperature therein. This arrangement, byautomatic operation of valve 21 in accordance with variations in-water temperature, controls the "gas supply to maintain the we ter at uniform temperature. The temperature to be maintained may be varied by an adjustable screw 32. The details of the thermo'stat29, 30, snap action mechanism 28, valve z'l-and adjustgara es;

. granted September "I, 1943, for Combined safety and control valve mechanism, to which ref pilot 4 erence may be had if desirable or necessary.

The pilot burner ll, shown more or less conventionally, is of course rather remote from the casing ll, which is attached to the wall of the casing I! usually .at a level considerably above that of the pilot burner. Therefore, the pilot burner is supplied with gas by way of a small diameter pipe or conduit 34 made, for example.

of copper tubing, and which communicates with the discharge chamber [9 by way of a port or opening 35 through the wall of the casing i1, an annular channel 36 in a cylindrical. shell 31, and ports or openings 38 opening through said shell into the discharge chamber lfi'at a point spaced longitudinally from the main b'urner ports 24 and between ports 24 and valve 23.

Means is provided for resetting the controlling valve 23 to open position, by: manual operation, as well as means for releasably maintaining said valve" in open position when the pilot flame is ignited.

The reset means includes a manually operable button or head 39 on the outer end of a tube,

provided at its inner end with an operable pistonform supplementary valve 4| movable longitudinally' inthe cylindrical'adischarge chamber l9.

Said valveis normally biased to move to its inoperative position, shown in full lines Fig. 2, by a compression spring 42 surrounding tube 40 and housed within'the chamber of a plug 43 screwed into the casing and integral with the sleeve 31 before referred to, the inner end of which sleeve provides the seat for valve 23. In the .inopera-.

tive position of the supplementary valve the inner-surfaceof 'buttbn 39 is spaced from the head somewhat remote from casing ll, this so is made somewhat long and flexible, from the me= chanical standpoint. It must include at the operating end which actuates couple member 49 a suitable servomotor to actuate said-member, and at-its opposite end, where it is sensitive to the pilot flame, it must include some means capable of producing actuation of the servomotor and thermally responsive to-pilot flame. In thearrangement shown the thermally responsive means includes a bulb 50, the chamber in which communicates by the channel in a small diameter bendable copperor other tubev 5| with a chamber in a suitable expansible and contractible servomotor carried by a plug 53 screwed into the outer end of a chamber in the wall of easing I1 and in which chamber the servomotor. 52 is located. Theservomotor, for example, may be an ordinary Sylphonbellows. The movable abutment at the end of said bellows is connected by a stem '54 to couple member 49; As is usual, the closed or sealed system, including the chambers in bulb 50 and bellows 52 and the channel connecting them, contains an appropriate quantity of a fluid expanslble and contractible by variations in temperature. a

The parts are so designed, constructed and arranged that when the parts are cold, in the sense that neither burner is ignited, theservomotor is I contracted and couple member 49 lies entirely within the recess 48, being spaced vifrom the iace oi the stop ring 41 by a small distance, such as thirty thousandths of an inch.

The device operates as follows: Let us assume that the valve mechanism is installed upon a domestic water heater in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, with the valve mechanism attached to the side wall of the casing, the thermostatic elements 29, 30 extending through the wall thereof into the water space, the main burner supply pipe 2! connecting the unit to the main burner, the small copper tube 34 providing gas supply for the pilot 44 'of :the stem which supports valve 23, so

that it is-necessary' to push the button'in and take up the lost motion between said head and the valve stem, before the"valve 23 begins to move.

When that lost motion has been taken up the supplementary valve .occuples'a position beyond all of the ports 24 communicating with the passage 25 and shutting oil the flow of gas to the main burner, but leaving'port 38 open, so that flow to the pilot burner is not shut ofl. Further advance motion of the re'setbutton moves valve 28 from its seat to open position, the motion continuing untilone of the members 4% of a permanent magnet couple engages a fixed stop or shoulder,- carried by the casing I1, and shown as an annular projection 41 surrounding a cylindrical recess 48 in the casing wall. In said recess is enclosed the other member 49 of said permanent magnet couple.

The two members of the permanent magnet magnet and member 48 is the keeper. although the reverse arrangement may be employed.

' Member 49 of the couple, i. e., the one lying in connected to thermally'responsive means sensitive to the presence or absence of flame at the pilot burner. Fln'ther, since the pilot burner s the recess 48, is operatively associated with or burner 33, and the servomotor bulb 52 by the pipe 5!. It may be further assumed that the valve parts 62 connected to occupy the position shown in Fig. 2. That is to say, the water temperature is above the critical value, so that the thermostatic tube 39 is extended, andbecause there is no demand iorheat, regulating snap valve 2! is closed and .main

burner 50 is out. But the pilot burner is also out, as the result of an assumed'back draft or other incident. It is desired to set the system into operation, whichis accomplished as follows:

Button 39 is first pressed in, the parts moving to the positions shown in Fig. 3. When the lost motion between said button and valve stem 4! is taken up, valve 4! has moved beyond the ports 24, flow to which from chamber as is thereby out ofl. Further inward motion oi said button advances the valve 23 against the eflect of its returning or biasing compression spring 55 until the magnet es engages the stop 41 on the casing wall. which is made, ofv course, of non-magnetic material such as brass or copper. In this position or the parts ports, leading to the pilot burner supply conduit, of course are still open. Since there is no flame existing, the fluid within the sealed bulb system is contracted and couple member 48 is se'paratedfrom its mate by a distance such that the strength of the magnetic flux is relatively weak. Therefore, it neither burner is ignited and the flnger is taken oil! from thebutton 39, the parts return to their initial positions and nothing occurs. However, if a lighted match ,ing as a tempo burner supply,

is applied to the pilot flame it will ignite, but the main burnerdoes not ignite because the flow oicouple members are in contact the strength of the magnetic flux between them, causing them to adhere, is considerably greater than the v strength of the valve biasing spring 55. If the finger is now removed from button 39, valve 23 remains in its open position, where it is relea'sably held by the effect of the two couple members, and sleeve 40 and supplementary valve ll return to their original positions. This reestablishes communication from the discharge chamber I! by way of port 24 to the main burner, but subject however to the operation of the regulating valve 21. That is to say, the main burner channel is open when the water temperature is low and imposes upon the thermostatic elements 20, a demand for heat, causing them to open valve 21. But it the water temperature is high valve 21 will. be closed, in the usual manner.

All parts remain in the operative or valve opened position so long as the thermally sensitive device is affected by the pilot flame, but if the pilot flame is extinguished for. any reason, such as on account of a failure in the gas supply, the thermally sensitive device 50 cools and the servomotor contracts, its end abutment moving to the'right in Fig t-and carrying with it the magnet couple member attached to it, which in the form shown .is the keepermemberfl. Movement to the right .of the magnet 46, however, is prevented by the stop shoulder or abutment on the casing wall. Consequently, cooling or the thermally sensitive device causes operation of the two couple members by bodily movement oi one thereof (member 49) relative to the other member ll. Under the influence of itsbiasing spring 42 the control valve promptlysnaps to its inoperative or closed r and to the main burner. The their original normal or inoperative positions, requiring a complete resetting operation, when gas flow is resumed, as before. Thus, the system described combines in one unit not only a regulating valve, sensitiveto water temperature and always tending to maintain that temperature uniform, but also a single valve for controlling the supply of gas to both the main and pilot burners. That control valve is sensitive. thermally to the presence or absence of flame playing upon the controlbulb 50, and therefore constitutes a safety valve which fully shuts off the flow 01 any gas through the valve mechanism, if the pilot flame goes out. In addition, the valve mechanism includes a supplementary valve servrary shut-off valve for the main but it automatically opens .and lot burner is ignited to the pilot burne parts are now. in

remains open when the pi and the reset device is released, so that it does away'entirely with any necessity for the usual manually operated control valve for the main burner supply.

The permanent mag may be of any suitable form, of a form producinghigh magnetic flux for a given size and weight of metal. An Alnico magnet is suitable for the purpose. The-drawings show a 'special'magnet illustrated in detail in net of the magnet couple position, shutting oi! the flow of all gas through the valve device, both 6 Fig. 5. This consists of a generally cylindrical body member 80 suitably secured on thereduced end portion licjof the valve stem 45, and housed within two cup-shaped members .62, 63 made 0! magnetic. material, the edges 01' the skirts of said cups being faced off in the same plane. The

' body member 80 is magnetized so that the lilies oi. flux, from N to S, span the gap between the skirts oi. the two members 62, 63. Consequently the keeper or armature 49, when in contact with the, magnet, includes two sets of lines of force.

one on each side of the central axis, instead oi. a

single set, as is usual with the ordinary-borseshoe type of magnet. However, the special form of magnet, while of considerable value in the present construction, is not essential for its oper at on.

other advantages or the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What we claim is:

1. Controlling mechanism of the character -described, comprising movable control means having idle and operating positions, a magnet couple including cooperating mated permanent magnet and keeper members, both of which are movable and one of which is operatively associated with said control means, means biasing saidcontrol means toward one of its ositions, reset means for advancing said control means against'said bias toward its other position and its associated couple member to a position neighboring itsmate, stop means for limiting advance motionof said associated couple member, and condition responsivemeans for adjusting the other couple member toward or from its mate, to produce contact or separation between the couple members with.conse-' quent holding or release of the associated control means.

2. Controlling mechanism 02 the character de scribed, comprising a movable control device having idle and operating positions, a magnet couple including cooperating mated permanent magnet and keeper members, both of which are movable and one of which is operatively associated with said control device, means for advancing said one member of the couple and its'associated control device, stop means limiting 'motion 01 the advanced couple member to a position neighboring it's mate,-and means for advancing the second couple member into contact with the first.

3. vIn combination, a hollow valve casing provided with gas supply and'discharge chambers, a

valve controlling the flow of gas from the supply chamber-tothe discharge chamber, means blasing said valve to move toward closed position, re set means for advancingsaid valve to open position, a magnet couple including cooperating relatively movable mated permanent magnet and keeper members, both of which are movable and one of which is operatively associated with the means affected by the heat produced by gas flowing past said valve for adjusting the other mem-- ber toward and from its mate, and stationary g5 abutment means in the path of movement of said jected. but preferably is said valve being biased toward closed position, I

one member for limiting its advance motion to thereby prevent or permit contact between.saidmembers dependent upon the temperature to which said thermally responsive means is subvalve to move therewith, thermally responsive means for advancing said valve in the ope direction, a magnet. couple including cooperating relatively movable mated permanent magnet and keeper members, both of which are movable, one

said first member and adapted to limit the movement thereof, an actuator operatively associated with said second member, and an operating device operatively associated with said servomotor and located to be affected by-the heat produced by fuel flowing past said valve, said second member,

, said actuator, and said operating device being so constructed and arranged that when said operating device is at one temperature the second memberlies within said recessand spaced from said shoulder and out of contact with the first member, and when the valve is advanced, and the operating device is sublectedto another temper:- ture, the actuator moves the second couple m her in said recess to a position in contact with the first couple member, thereby to maintain the valve open. 1

5. Valve mechanism of the character described,

comprising a hollow casing provided with gas "supply and discharge chambers, a valve movable back and forth between idle and operative positions for controlling the flow of gas between said chambers,

a magnet couple for controlling said valve, said couple including cooperating relatively movable mated permanent magnet and keeper members, both of which are movable and one of which is operatively associatedwith the valve, reset means for advancingsald one member and said valve from inoperative to operative position, thermally responsive means affected by the heat produced by fuel flowing past the valve, the other couple member being operatively associated with said,

thermally responsive means and adapted to be moved thereby to either of two positions relative .to its mate, one position in contact therewith and the other position separated thererrom, according I to' the temperature to which the thermally responsive means is subjected, and stationary abutment means lying in the path of movement of said one couple member to limit its advance and thereby prevent or permit actual contact between said coupl members upon operation of the reset means dependent upon the temperature to which said thermally responsive means is subjected.

6. Fuel flow controlling mechanism, comprising a chambered valve casing, a control valve therein having open and closed positions, means biasing said valve toward closed position, reset means for advancing said valve toward open position, stop means limiting such advance, a magnet couple including cooperating mated permanent' magnet and keeper members, both of which are movable and one of which is movable with the valve and the other of which normally occupies a position spaced from its mate when the valve has been advanced to its limit as determined by said stop means, and thermally responsive means ail'ected by the heat produced by fuel passing said valve and operatively associated aeiaastwiththesecond of s d-couple members and adapted when heated to adjust said second cou- ,releasablymaintaln the valve open.

7. Fuel flow controlling mechanism, comprising i a chambered valve casing, a control valve therein having open and closed positions,- means biasing said valve toward closedposition, reset means for advancing said valve toward open position, stop 10 means limiting such advance, thermally responsive means-afiected by the heat produced byiuel passing said valve, and a magnet couple including cooperating mated permanent magnet and keeper members, both of which are movableand one of which is movable with the valve and the other of which is operatively associated with said thermally responsive means and when said means is-heated occupies a'position in which it engages its mate and thereby releasably' maintains the valve open, whereby upon cooling of said thermally responsive means the couple memberasso- 'ciated therewith is withdrawn and said stop a means serves as an abutment compelling separation of the mated couple members and release of the valve for biased movement to closed position.

8. Controlling mechanism of the character described, comprising a movable control device having idle and operating positions, a magnet couple including cooperating mated permanent magnet and keeper members, both of which are movable and one of which is operatively associated with said control device to move therewith, means for advancing said one member oi the couple and its associated control device to a position 5 in which the advanced couple member neighbors its mate, and variable condition responsive means operatively associated with. the second couple member to actuate the same and adaptedupon variation of the condition in one direction beyond 49 a given value to advance the, second couple member to a position in which it may contact with the first and upon variation of the condition in the ing idle and operating positions, a magnet couple including cooperating matedpermanent magnet o and keeperv members, both of which are movable and one of which is operatively associated with said control means, means biasing said control means toward one of its positions, reset means for advancing said control means against said bias toward its other position, and its associated couple member toward a position neighboring its mate, stop means for limiting advance motion of said associated couple member, and condition re sponsive means for adjusting the other couple member toward or from its mate, saidcondition responsive means being of such form and .so re-- lated to the couple member which it operates as to prevent contact between said couple members at low temperature and to produce holding contact between them when the temperature is raised.

THOMAS F. VAN DENBERG. JOHN SELBY. 

